SPARTANBURG, S.C. – In a low-scoring affair, a two-run home by AJ Priaulx in the fourth and a USC Upstate error in the seventh inning were all the Presbyterian College baseball team needed to get past the Spartans, 3-2, on Tuesday afternoon at the PC Baseball Complex. PC improve to 4-6 on the year, while Upstate falls to 3-5-1.

How It Happened

Both teams got two runs in the fourth to break open the scoring. In the top half, Russell Schwertfeger hit a lead-off, solo home run to right to get it started. Will Hardigree followed with a single and then advanced to second a wild pitch. Hardigree then advanced to third on a sac bunt attempt and scored on a throwing error by the pitcher to make it 2-0.

In the bottom half of the fourth, Jack McLaughlin was hit by a pitch to put the leadoff man aboard. AJ Priaulx then followed with a two-run homer to right, his second homer of the year, tying the game at 2-2.

The only other scoring would come in the home half of the seventh. Guy Casaceli led off the inning with a double to left center, putting the go-ahead run in scoring position. Jonathan White then put down a sacrifice bunt but an errant throw by the pitcher allowed Casaceli to score on the play and put PC in front 3-2.

Eric Miles (2-1) earned the win in relief, working 1.0 scoreless inning with no hits and one intentional walk. Miles entered the game with two on and one out in the seventh and after the intentional pass, induced a 4-6-3 double play to strand two and preserve the 2-2 tie at the time.

Grant Hoppock (0-1) was tagged with the loss, allowing one unearned run on one hit in 2.1 innings with four strikeouts against no walks.

Ryan Hedrick recorded his first save of the season, recording a 1-2-3 ninth inning with a pair of strikeouts.

PC Player of the Game

AJ Priaulx proved the key offensive play of the game with the two-run home run in the fourth. The lefty is now tied for the team lead, while taking the team lead in RBIs (9) and batting average (.375) on the young season.

Notables

- PC hitters have now hit at least one home run in four straight games, totaling six over that span. The Blue Hose are on pace for 86 home runs this season, after hitting 47 a year ago.

- Reagan Fowler came up big in relief, working 3.1 scoreless innings out of the bullpen and allowed just two hits with four strikeouts against no walks.

- Austin Paradis made his second career start, allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits with strikeouts against one walk.

- Jonathan White went 2-for-3 on the day for his second multi-hit game of the season, as he batted in the leadoff spot for the first time this season.

Up Next

PC returns to action on Friday, March 2 with two games in the Snowbird Classic. The Blue Hose take on Mount Saint Mary’s at 2:30 p.m. and Northeastern at 6 p.m.